40A-21.551. Use Classes

Each water user shall be given one or more of the following use classes regardless of whether the water is self-supplied or provided by a public water supply system.

(1) “Aesthetic Use” means the use of water for fountains, waterfalls, and landscape lakes and ponds where such uses are primarily ornamental and decorative.

(2) “Agricultural Irrigation Use” means the use of water for the commercial production of crops or the growing of farm products including: vegetables, citrus, pasture, nursery stock, turf grass and sod.

(3) “Aquacultural Use” means the use of water for the spawning, cultivating, harvesting or marketing of fin-fish, shellfish, crustaceans, frogs, turtles, alligators and other aquatic organisms that have a sport or other economic value.

(4) “Aquifer Restoration Use” means the withdrawal of water for the purpose of recovering contaminant(s) to restore or improve the quality of the water within an aquifer.

(5) “Commercial Use” means the use of water integral to the production of the primary goods or services provided by a business establishment, such as a car wash and laundromat.

(6) “Dewatering Use” means the removal of water from a specific area to facilitate mining or construction.

(7) “Diversion and Impoundment Into Non-District Facilities” means the diversion or extraction of water into non-District impoundments and delivery systems designed for purposes including maintaining structural integrity, providing agricultural water and other non-recreational non-aesthetic use.

(8) “Domestic Use” means any use of water for personal needs or for household purposes such as drinking, bathing, cooking, sanitation or cleaning, which occurs in a residence.

(9) “Essential Use” means use of water strictly for fire fighting purposes, health and medical purposes and the use of water to satisfy federal, state or local public health and safety requirements.

(10) “Freeze Protection” means the periodic and infrequent use of water to protect agricultural and nursery crops from permanent damage due to low temperatures. This action would be taken in response to forecasts of freezing temperatures by official weather forecasting services.

(11) “Golf Course Irrigation Use” means water used to irrigate golf courses.

(12) “Heating and Cooling Use” means the use of water for heating, air-conditioning or other cooling uses.

(13) “Industrial Use” means the use of water integral to the production of the primary goods provided by a business establishment, and includes those many uses wherein the water serves the purposes of manufacturing, commerce, trade or industry.

(14) “Landscape Irrigation Use” means the outside watering of plants, shrubs, grass, trees, and other such flora in landscapes surrounding homes, non-commercial household gardens, industrial buildings, parks, recreational areas, cemeteries, public right-of-ways, and medians.

(15) “Livestock and Other Animal Use” means the use of water for drinking by or washing of livestock, including zoo animals.

(16) “Mining Use” means the use of water for extraction, transportation, or processing of minerals.

(17) “Navigation Use” means water discharged from ground or surface sources either to tide water or to downstream lakes or reaches of rivers or canals for the purpose of permitting or protecting boating activity.

(18) “Nursery Irrigation Use (Non-agricultural)” means the use of water on premises in which nursery plants are held for sale or distribution or shipment. The term does not apply to water used for production of nursery stock.

(19) “Other Outside Use” means the use of water outdoors for dust control, the maintenance, cleaning and washing of structures and mobile equipment including automobiles and the washing of streets, driveways, sidewalks and similar areas.

(20) “Other Public Supply Use” means the use of water in public drinking water systems not covered or included in the Florida Safe Drinking Water Act and as defined in subsection 10D-4.018(2), F.A.C., Rule of the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services.

(21) “Perishable Food Processing” means industrial uses involving the processing of perishable foods.

(22) “Power Production Use” means the use of water for steam generation and the use of water for cooling and for replenishment of cooling reservoirs.

(23) “Public Supply Use” means water used for withdrawal, treatment, transmission and distribution by public water systems.

(24) “Recreation Area Irrigation Use” means the use of water for irrigating recreational areas such as football, baseball, or soccer fields, and playgrounds.

(25) “Sanitation” includes supplying water for toilet facilities and for cleaning, when the use occurs in a non-residence. This use DOES NOT include any use of water for personal needs, such as bathing, showering, use of lavatories, cooking, or drinking which occurs in a commercial or industrial establishment or any other type of non-residence.

(26) “Soil Flooding” means the use of water for the raising of water levels on agricultural lands for purposes not directly related to crop growth including soil preservation, crop harvesting and pest control.

(27) “Water Based Recreation Use” means water used for public or private swimming and wading pools, spas and other water-oriented recreation such as fishing, boating and water slides.

Rulemaking Authority 373.044, 373.113 FS. Law Implemented 373.175, 373.246 FS. History–New 3-29-92, Amended 3-27-19.